Africa: Urgent need to review immigration policies and charges

With a dwindling world economy, smart governments have reacted appropriately to streamline their expenses and are exploring other avenues of income.

Some of these have been through increase of immigration charges, interview and visa fees, and reduction of diplomatic offices, among others.

Of course, the law of osmosis has applied whereby the strong forces draw the weaker ones and weaker nations whose desperate population have been leaving their countries en-masse, have been the victims.

Three years ago, the interview fee at US embassy in Cameroon was approximately US$100 but about a year ago, it moved to US$131.

About two years ago, a US official said about 2000 Cameroonians enter the US each year through the Diversity Lottery Visa program. Almost that same number enter every year through other legal channels but more that five times that number are turned down visas.

After necessary calculation, one realises that the money paid by Cameroonians trying to enter the US is already enough to run the embassy, pay it staff, carry out its projects in Cameroon and perhaps save some in some banks in Washington. The same applies for embassies like that of France, UK and a few other major destinations.

I personally think it is NOT the fault of the US or any these governments to increase visa and other immigration charges because they have not called anybody to their embassies. Their charges are also based on their plans.

As for the US in particular, it charges visa fee for those countries who also charge Americans money for entering into their countries.

For Sweden, three years ago, it cost FCFA 70.000 (app. US$180) to process a visa with documents deposited in Cameroon. In 2008, it went up to FCFA120.000 and FCFA 135.000 for visa fee about (US$280 and US$350) respectively.

For Belgium, three years ago, interview fee was FCFA 33.000 it later moved to FCFA FCFA67.000 and from July 2009, it landed at FCFA 126.000.

However, for Belgium irrespective of whether one is granted visa or not, you must pay the FCF 126.000.

I am calculating the value of US $1 at FCFA 450.

Added to these fabulous sums, are the compulsory medical tests done in specific hospitals under the instruction of some of these embassies like the US, Belgium and so on, at a cost for sure. It is all business.

The same high amount for interview and visa fee applies for many other western countries.

The objectives of such increments are often set as strategies to meet up cost and other security reasons. One may still rightly or wrongly interpret them as means to discourage immigration while a lot more just see it a large hole to milk endlessly from those wishing to leave their country for the “western Eldorado” often out of despair as their countries have taken hostage by aristocrats.

Stunned

What has stunned me is that most African governments and Cameroon in particular have not made any changes on their own immigration policies.

On the contrary, most people from so-called developed nations enter Cameroon and most African countries without any interview, without doing any medical test, and some times without even paying any visa fee.

For the case of Cameroon, citizens from more developed countries only pay a minimal CFA30.000 (US$70) at the airport.

I consider this an insult and sheer stupidity on the part of the Cameroonian government, which has always used the argument of force than that of reason for the development of the nation.

How can people from so-called developed nations pay just a miserable US$70 to enter Cameron whereas Cameroonians pay an average of US$ 200 to enter other countries?

It is my opinion and for the economic interest of Cameroon that the government charges same amount from any foreign migrants be it from the most developed country or not, just as they charge Cameroonians for entering their own countries. They could even charge more because most people from west are supposedly from the richer world.

It is unacceptable that Cameroonians and other Africans pay interview and visa fee to enter most western countries whereas citizens of the latter enter and leave Cameroon and Africa as they want in the name of tourism.

It would also be nice for Cameroon and other African countries to introduce medical tests for all those wishing to enter various countries in the continent.

It is believe that people carry diseases from Africa to the west but people do not think that the reverse is also true as well.

In my opinion, people wishing to enter Cameroon as well as other African states should not only do medical tests but should be asked about their sexual orientations. They must also pay equivalent visa and interview fee.

Homosexuals (gays) and lesbians should not be allowed to enter the continent or Cameroon because they spread diseases.

While hard working people brainstorm on ways to improve their economy, the terribly ineffective and inefficient neo colonial gerontocracy in Cameroon and most of Africa have been very dormant knowing so well that they would go to their accomplice, the IMF/World Bank to get their booty and use the future of Cameroonian children the nation’s resources as sureties.

After all, such “loans” are virtually distributed among those who have ruined the country economically and politically.

Conclusion

The bottom line of this write up is to appeal to Cameroon and other African countries to review their immigration policies and charges and checks to march with the current global economic trends.

Those who have more, may be, ought to pay more. The biblical adage that, those who do not have, the little they have would be taken away from them should not work, because, it is a very exploitative adage at its best in its application.

President Obama in Africa: beyond “yes we can”, yes we must

Africa can, yes, we can, as President Obama said Saturday July 11 on his maiden visit to Africa, the continent from where his father hails, and a continent he was visiting at most, for his fifth time and the first time as the President of the United States of America.

I understand the choice of Ghana was certainly motivated by the country’s democratic rule, stability and progress but again due to the discovery of oil and the need to sign juicy contracts with the now oil rich nation. The expectations of the people of Ghana have been high as they hope to improve relations, demand for fair and balance economic cooperation with the strongest nation on the planet earth.

President Obama was categorical as he said, “No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves…” . African needs viable and reliable institutions and not tyrants as President Obama insinuated.

That is certainly true because Africa’s current colonial administrators are just was bad as the colonial masters were. However, when we look as the fiscal heavens created by corrupt leaders and supported by wealthy but corrupt nations too, which have in a great way impoverished developing nations, then, there are several unanswered questions. When you examine the dysfunctionalities, there is so much questioning.

Areas like Jersey, Monaco, Geneva, Munich, London, Delaware etc are among the top ranking places where illicit funds are kept and banking transactions made in almost no respect with basic legal and moral banking principles like not accepting money from doubtful sources.

President Obama should make it possible for his country to sign agreements with other African countries so that bank accounts and assets of all Africans especially those holding positions of responsibility or who have held positions of responsibility to be tracked at anytime.

For some time now, rich but corrupt countries holding stolen funds have always refused to collaborate with countries from where the funds have been stolen on the pretext of complicated legislations.

The answer simple: The host countries always want to own the money and other real estates gotten from embezzlers. That is why funds belonging to thieves like Mobuto, Abacha, Bongo etc have been virtually owned by host countries.

It is our wish to see Mr. Obama use his influence and that of his country to suggest modifications on the imperialist policies of institutions like the UN Security Council, World Trade Organisation the Breton woods etc. Africa needs fair trades not financial aide, which have greatly damage the continent

As Mr. Obama rightly put it, the final say for the development of Africa rests in the hands of Africans. However, only a revolution is needed because of the visible and invisible forces of colonialism piloted by the successive neo colonial leaders in most of the continent since independence and who have plundered Africa.

When Mr Nicolas Sarkhozy was elected President of France, he talked of "rupture" with most African countries. Many were optimistic that at least such rupture would permit many francophone African countries like Cameroon, Cote D ' Ivoire etc to take off.

However, they came to realise that it was just political talk for the time being. Some of these politicians are so eloquent especially at cajoling or attracting attention.

Most of these current colonial leaders in Africa would certainly not want transparent and accountable leadership because that is not was handed over to them or the instructions they are receiving from the invisible forces.

But, with the growing discontent in the continent, the imminent breaking of the colonial bond to establish the kind of transparent leadership Obama talked about will be a relieve.

When we look at way in which corruption in Ghana was drastically reduced, the person who deserves the credit, Jerry Rawlings, had to kind of close up his country and dealt with the state thieves in a merciless manner.

I strongly believe that dealing with those embezzling state funds should not be different from dealing with murderers and arm robbers because I have seen the pains inflicted on people who would have otherwise been saved by the judiciously use of their state resources.

President Obama’s message is a clarion call for that revolution, but, I believe the visible and invisible neo colonial forces and institutions have to also be destroyed.

The story of the Cameroon port is a sad one. Inasmuch as corrupt officials have managed the port inefficiently, the efforts of nationalistic and pro Cameroon development oriented manager like Etoundi Oyono who resisted the privatisation of one of the port facilities to the French Bolore group met stiff resistance from the visible French neo colonial force. These forces virtually control our “president”.

Nationalistic, vision-action oriented but pro-development leaders will work on the continent's agricultural sector, infrastructure, health, science and technology. They will put the interest of the country first as they negotiate any deals.

On the hand, neo colonial leaders would sow impunity, corruption, embezzlement, make the country dependent; put their country into debts etc. All these because at least they know or they feel their children and their family and friends are one-step in and one out, in case of any chaos. Those are the leaders most of Africa has as of now.

Nevertheless, the bitter truth is, let “former” colonial masters leave their “former” territories alone. No, to neo colonial institutions like WTO, IMF etc. No, to neo colonial leaders. Yes, to transparency, human rights, people empowerment, etc.

Yes, Africa can revolt against current misleading leadership and their shady deals that have impoverished the continent. Beyond the yes, we can, yes, we must implement the said changes to move forward